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How building users can contribute to greenhouse-gas emission reductions in Finland: comparative study of standard technical measures, user modifications and behavioural measures

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Abstract

The residential sector is responsible for a considerable share of global greenhouse-gas emissions. In cold climates, space heating and energy-efficiency improvements are critical. Solutions can be off-the-shelf technologies, user modifications to adapt such technologies to local needs or behavioural measures. This paper conducts carbon footprint and profitability analyses of 20 such measures, including conventional technical measures, user modifications and behavioural changes in Finland. The study focuses on detached houses that have the most common heating system in the Finnish context—direct electricity, which is particularly problematic because it limits the options for improvement. The results show that the largest energy and emission savings resulted from heat pump installations and adding insulation to the roof. The most profitable measures were related to heat pumps. Some of the user modifications appeared promising in both respects.

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Acknowledgments

The funding from Academy of Finland grants Local Adaptation and Innovation in Practice in Achieving Carbon Neutrality (AKA 140933) is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Finnish Environment Institute, SYKE, P.O. Box 140, FI-00251, Helsinki, Finland

    M. K. Mattinen, P. Tainio, M. Salo & A. Nissinen

  2. School of Economics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 21210, FI-00076, Aalto, Finland

    M. Jalas

  3. National Consumer Research Centre, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 24, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland

    E. Heiskanen

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  1. M. K. Mattinen
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  2. P. Tainio
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Mattinen, M.K., Tainio, P., Salo, M. et al. How building users can contribute to greenhouse-gas emission reductions in Finland: comparative study of standard technical measures, user modifications and behavioural measures. Energy Efficiency 9, 301–320 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12053-015-9366-y

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